WP Builds
Nathan Wrigley
Web site building with WordPress. In this podcast we follow the hopeless exploits of David Waumsley and Nathan Wrigley as they try, and fail, to understand WordPress.
They know that they love building websites with WordPress, but the complexities of this awesome web building solution are always out of reach.
Not only are they not clever enough, but they just don't try all that hard
They know that they love building websites with WordPress, but the complexities of this awesome web building solution are always out of reach.
Not only are they not clever enough, but they just don't try all that hard
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 29, 2026 • 47min
454 – Innovative serverless solutions for WordPress with Carl Alexander and Paul Carter
Carl Alexander, creator of Ymir, builds serverless PHP/WordPress tools for scalable uptime. Paul Carter, co-founder of Built Fast, packages scalable hosting, security and tooling for partners. They discuss Ymir’s technical benefits, how Built Fast integrates and polishes the platform, invisible SaaS‑level uptime expectations, reducing host pain points, and enabling large WooCommerce and LMS sites to scale reliably.

Jan 27, 2026 • 1h 29min
This Week in WordPress #363
Marcus Burnett, WordPress builder and community organizer at Bluehost; Marc Benzakein, partnerships lead focused on agency workflows; Jess Frick, hosting leader experienced in WordPress infrastructure. They discuss the new centralized WordPress education hub, trust in companies and people across the ecosystem, the role and costs of AI in WordPress, WordPress 6.9.1 timing, and lighter community stories about corgis and alligators.

Jan 22, 2026 • 53min
453 – Does WordPress offer anything to a younger audience? With Taylor Drayson
Taylor Drayson, a young WordPress pro known for innovative projects like WP Extended and Snippet Club, shares his inspiring journey into web development. He discusses how his father's self-employment influenced his career choices and the importance of community in WordPress. The conversation dives into WordPress's tech debt and its appeal to younger audiences, along with insights on creating modular plugins that address real agency needs. Taylor also reflects on the evolution of youth engagement in the platform and the diverse global demographics shaping its future.

Jan 20, 2026 • 1h 30min
This Week in WordPress #362
Andrew Palmer, hosting lead at Atarim, and Marcus Burnette from Bluehost, share their insights on the future of AI in WordPress. They discuss upcoming changes with WordPress 7.0 and the dropping of older PHP support. The conversation dives into the implications of AI-generated plugins, community roles, and shifts in event management. Another highlight includes the decline in Stack Overflow traffic due to AI usage, raising concerns about community-driven content. The panel also emphasizes the importance of adaptation as trends evolve in the WordPress ecosystem.

Jan 15, 2026 • 35min
452 – Exploring FolioBlocks, Michael Campanella’s WordPress gallery plugin for photographers
In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Michael Campanella, a professional photographer and developer of the Folio Blocks WordPress gallery plugin. They explore the plugin’s visual gallery options, including grid, justified, masonry, carousel, video, and a unique modular gallery, designed to offer photographers greater creative control. The discussion covers Folio Blocks’ deep integration with the block editor, features like taxonomy-based filtering, WooCommerce integration for sales, easy image downloads, and its pricing structure. Michael shares insights on why he built the plugin and highlights its strengths for users needing powerful, modern media galleries on WordPress. Check it out...

Jan 13, 2026 • 1h 34min
This Week in WordPress #361
Come and join us LIVE for the This Week in WordPress show. This week I'm with Michelle Frechette, Anne-Mieke Bovelett, Marc Benzakein and we're going to be going over the last 7 days in the WordPress space. This episode covers recent WordPress news and trends, with a strong focus on accessibility, including actionable insights for improving SEO and user experience. It explores plugin market changes, collaboration tools, and AI’s impact on the community and development workflows. Discussion highlights include practical advice for building accessible sites, reflections on plugin sales and irreplaceability, emerging tools for WordPress optimisation, and upcoming WordPress events across the globe. The show gets into adaptability, community strength, and ongoing opportunities in the WordPress ecosystem despite technological shifts. Check it out...

33 snips
Jan 8, 2026 • 1h 9min
451 – The realities of teaching WordPress: Dave Foy’s shift to live cohort learning
In this discussion, Dave Foy, an educator and web designer who creates WordPress courses, shares his journey from traditional teaching to innovative online training. He highlights the urgency of keeping tech courses current amidst frequent software updates and the pitfalls of perfectionism that lead to burnout. Dave unveils his transition to live cohort teaching, which fosters accountability and community, enhancing student success. He discusses the benefits of real-time learning and how his hybrid model balances core lessons with engaging Q&A sessions.

Jan 6, 2026 • 1h 33min
This Week in WordPress #360
This episode kicks off the new year with reflections on WordPress’ most-read news of 2025, covering both community achievements and challenges. The conversation explores resolutions, AI-powered tools for WordPress and app building, plugin submission issues, and the evolving role of AI in web development. Updates touch on upcoming WordPress releases, event schedules, and initiatives like the Zeel Memorial Scholarship, all while highlighting the importance of collaboration, innovation, and maintaining a positive, supportive community.

Dec 18, 2025 • 1h 25min
450 – What just happened? Episode 5. WordPress in transition, 6.9, trademark battles, and AI
Rae Morey, a seasoned journalist and publisher of The Repository, dives into the latest happenings in the WordPress ecosystem. She discusses the innovative features of WordPress 6.9, including collaboration capabilities and AI integration. Rae sheds light on the ongoing trademark disputes involving the WordPress Foundation and offers insights into the significance of the AI Experiments plugin. The conversation rounds off with a recap of WordCamp Canada’s success and the future direction of Jetpack. Tune in for a comprehensive overview!

Dec 16, 2025 • 1h 37min
This Week in WordPress #359
Join Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Courtney Robertson and Jesse Friedman. This episode covers highlights in the WordPress community, including upcoming events like CloudFest Hackathon, the Open Source Experience conference, and CMSConf. The panel discusses the release of WordPress 6.9, early planning for version 7.0, and new plugins. Other topics include the evolution of responsive block editing, the debate around integrating AI as a core component of WordPress, updates to the Global Partnership program, and reflections on Black Friday purchases. The discussion talks about collaboration, innovation, and adapting to emerging technologies while maintaining an open, user-focused approach.


